CBU Begins Underdog Streak

Friday, November 20

USAF Academy, Colo.

12:30 PM

California Baptist University

Loyola Marymount

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

CBU Begins Underdog Streak

11/20/2015 2:50:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For two years in a row, California Baptist University has entered the Western Water Polo Association Championships as the lower seed in the first round. For two years in a row, the Lancers have now upset their higher-seeded foe.

CBU, the 19^th-ranked team in the NCAA and seventh-seed in the WWPA Tournament, continued that streak with a 13-12 victory over No. 14 Loyola Marymount Friday afternoon at the Air Force Academy's Cadet Natatorium. The win moves CBU into a semifinal matchup with top-seeded and ninth-ranked UC Davis at 12:15 p.m. PT. The Aggies defeated the Lancers 17-10 in Davis when they matched up earlier this season.

"Our team relishes that underdog role, it gets us going knowing other teams see us as that," Coach Kevin Rosa said. "We knew we were going to have an advantage because [LMU] hadn't been to Colorado Springs this year. We knew if we could come out fast, we would have an advantage."

When the Lions and Lancers first met this season, LMU grabbed a 13-11 victory at the Lancer Aquatics Center. Rosa liked how his Lancers matched up with Loyola Marymount, he just felt his team needed to get off to a better start this time around after it put itself in a 2-0 and eventually 12-7 deficit in the previous game of the series.

Rosa's team answered that challenge and opened the first eight minutes, 34 seconds of the game on an 8-2 run. It was enough cushion for CBU to outlast a late rally from the Lions over the final 13 minutes of regulation. It was a balanced attack for the Lancers Friday, with eight different Lancers scoring in the game and seven of them contributing to the opening run.

"I think with the Air Force game we played up here a few weeks ago really prepared us," Rosa said. "We had a longer warmup and got our heart rates up earlier and I think that helped us. We looked like a fresh team and were attacking right away."

After offense carried CBU in the first 18 minutes or so, Joseph Moorman preserved the lead over the final 13:33 in the cage for the Lancers. The Riverside native had six of his 14 blocked shots in the second half to secure the win.

LMU pulled within three, 13-10, with 6:37 to play. The Lions did not score again until there was 1:12 left; however another goal with 37 seconds remaining made it a one-goal game. Loyola Marymount got the ball back with eight seconds left and immediately called a timeout. It led to one last shot, but the Lancers knew what was coming.

"They were running picks all day on the left-side of the pool," Rosa said. "We shut that down initially, but they got the ball over there, but their guy was far out. He took a shot about seven meters out, but Joey got the save. We forced them into a lot of deep shots in the fourth quarter."

A minute into the game, Brent Teraoka got the scoring started for CBU. Believe it or not, LMU answered with consecutive scores to take a 2-1 lead with 6:24 left in the half. It was the only lead the Lions had, as the Lancers scored the next eight goals, with the run spilling over into the second quarter.

Ryan Penney started the onslaught and CBU's senior trio continued it. Spencer Shore opened it up 5:22 left in the first half, Clint Walling then rattled one home 1:11 later and David Ring scored his first less than a minute after that.

The Lancers scored three more times in the final three minutes of the quarter, with Tucker Angelo and Luke Schuler nailing shots within the final 23 seconds and Schuler's coming in the last second to stun LMU, as CBU held a 7-2 lead going into the break.

Angelo scored again on CBU's first possession of the second quarter to make it 8-2. The Lions broke the run momentarily, but Thomas Henline and Teddy Forte scored consecutive goals to make it 10-3 with 1:28 remaining in the first half.

"This was definitely our most balance game this season," Rosa said. "Most of our goals came on the counter, or the counter got us good center position. The counter got us going and we found the right man at the right time. We were making crisp passes and hitting shots in the first half."

Loyola Marymount fought back and pulled within five, 10-5, by halftime, but the Lancers came right back and put the game away with three goals in the first 2:27 of the third quarter. Walling, Ring and Forte all scored in the run, with Forte's final goal completing his team-best hat trick.

Forte also finished an assist and two steals. Angelo, Walling and Ring all had two goals in the game. In addition to their scoring, Angelo drew an ejection and steal, Walling had two assists, drew an exclusion and forced a steal. Teraoka had three assists and a steal, while Tanner Shore had three steals, an assist and started a powerplay.

While the Lancers have started an impressive streak, they look to take the next step Saturday against UC Davis.

"We did the same thing last year and we aren't content," Rosa said. "The goal isn't to just win the first round, the goal is to finish well. We are going to go watch film and move on to that one. This win gives us confidence we can play with anyone and we will need that against Davis."